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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.

W, S. SCALES. INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC CLOCK. No. 448,998. Patented Mar. 24,1891- 5 col, ram-ro-m-m). wnsuwnww, o c

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. S. SCALES. INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC CLOCK,

'No. 448,998. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

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lVILLlAM S. SCALES, OF EVERETT, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOSEPH H.CLARK, OF QUINCY, AND JOHN B. HUMPHREY, OF BOSTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS,

INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC CLOCK SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo, 448,998, dated March 24, 18915 Application filed July 19, 1890.Serial No. 359,804- (No mocleh) .To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. SoALEs, of Everett, county of Middlesex,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Clocks,of which the following description,in connection with the accompanyin gdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction ofelectric clocks.

The invention consists in the combination, with aclock-train,astep-by-step driving mechanism therefor, and an electro-magnet and itsarmature that actuates said driving mechanism, of a regulating memberfor said clock which actuates said driving mechanism in case thearmature of the electro-magnet fails; also, in an electric clock, atrain, a step-bystep driving mechanism therefor, an electromagnet andits armature that actuates said driving mechanism, and a regulatingmember for the train which actuates said driving mech anism in case thearmature fails, combined with a propeller for said regulating member anda circuit-closer for the electro-magnet, moved in one direction by theregulating member and in the other direction by the armature.

The train may be of any suitable construction, and for the step-by-stepdriving mechanism I shall prefer to employ a ratchetwheel secured to oneof the shafts of the train and means for pushing it ahead step by step,actuated by the armature of the electro-magnet; but it has been foundunreliable to depend entirely on the said armature for theaccomplishment of this result, as occasionally said armature fails torespond to the impulses or to move sufficiently to in turn move theratchet-wheel; and hence I have so constructed the parts that thependulum or other regulating member of the clock will effect this resultin case the armature fails. A propeller is provided for the pendulum,which is located in juxtaposition to the armature, or it may be thearmature-lever, so as to be struck and moved by said lever a shortdistance as it is retracted to accumulate a certain amount of powerwhich is to be expended in giving an impetus to the pendulum. Thecircuit of the electro-inagnet is opened and closed by a circuit-closerwhich is closed by the pendu lum when moved in one direction and whichis broken during the return movement of the pendulum.

It is designed that the retractile force of the armature shall besufficient to move the pendulum-propeller from its normal position ofrest a short distance to thereby accumulate a certain amount of force,and that the pendulum when moving in one direction will close thecircuit of the electro-magnet and at or about the same time will engagethe propeller, so that the armature will be at once attracted and willno longer hold the propeller and the accumulated force thereof will begiven to the pendulum, and also that as the pendulum returns or moves inthe opposite direction it willleave the propeller in its normal positionof rest and at or about the same time will open the circuit so that thearmature retracting will again move the propeller from its normalposition of rest a short distance to again accumulate a force which isto be expended on the pendulum.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation an electric clock embodying thisinvention; Fig. 2, a side view of the clock shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3,a detail showing a portion of the pendulum, the step-by-step drivingmechanism, propeller for the pendulum, and circuit-closer.

The main frame-work A of the clock may be of any suitable or usualconstruction to support the operating parts. The drivingtrain consistsof a ratchet toothed wheel a, secured to a shaft a, bearing a pinion awhich meshes with a toothed wheel a secured to a shaft a carryiugapinion a, which engages a toothed wheel a, secured to a shaft a carryingthe minute-hand a A sleeve a is mounted on the shaft a which carries afriction-plate a engaging a disk a having secured to it a pinion o whichengages a toothed wheel a, secured to a shaft carrying a pinion a, whichengages a toothed wheel a secured to a sleeve a to which is attached thehour-hand a. A back-stop or click (0 is secured to the frame which is inengagement with the ratchet-wheel a to prevent retrograde movementthereof. In lieu of this particular form of train any other suitableconstruction or arrangementmay be I employed. An electro-magnet I) (seeFig. 1) is employed, the armature b of which is pivoted at b and isprovided with a retractile weight 12 or it may be a spring; but fordelicat-e adjustment I prefer to employa weight.

The armature, as herein represented, has secured to it a short arm I),having at its upper end a pawl b", which engages the ratchet toothedwheel ate drive the train. The arm I) has a suitable limitingstop b ofany suitable kind to limit the attractive movement of the armature.

The regulator herein represented consists of a pendulum c of any usualor suitable construction suspended from a shortarm or bar a, secured tothe frame-work. A pawl-carrying block or arm 0 is secured to a rodorshaft 0 to which is attached an armo having a bifurcated end 0 whichengages-the pendulum-rod 0, so that as the pendulum swings to and frothe pawl-carrying arm a will be moved simultaneously with it. Thepawl-carrying arm 0 as herein represented, consists of two pieces ofmetal securedtogether and separatedat their lower.cnds,- at which pointa cross bar or pin is secured, which carries a pawl 0 which is adaptedto engage the ratchet-wheel a on the shaft a, and, as hereinrepresented,.it rests by gravity on the upper side of the pawl b and. isdesigned to move the said ratchet forward one tooth, providing thepawl 1) fails tooperate,

as it is designed that they both shall operate independently andsuccessively on the same tooth at each movement.

A propeller is provided for the pendulum, it compensating for the lossby friction .and impediments, said propeller being herein shown as ablock d, pivoted at d tothe framework and carrying a suitable weight (1preferably adjustable. Thepropeller has at. its lower end a bent arm dwhich is adapted to bear against the upper end of thearm d onthlefarmature; or it may be thearmature it-' se A circuit-closer isprovided fortheelectromagnet b, one member of which, as 2, is carried bythe propeller, it being arranged on block d, and the other member ofwhich, as

3, is carried by the pawl-carrying arm 0 ,201 it may be on the pendulumrod direct.

The clock is started by giving proper movement to the pendulum, and withthependulun1 in its position of rest the parts will-be represented as inFig. 1. As thependulumis swung in the direction of thearrow, or towardthe left, the pawl-carrying arm 0 will-be moveduntil the contact 3closes on the contact 2, and by the inertia given to it will lift thesaid propeller a short distance toward the left.- The moment thecontacts 2 3 close the electromagnet 12 is energized and its armature isattracted, the pawl 19 moving the ratchet: wheel a forward one tooth,andat the same .time relieving the propeller of the weight or pressure ot'the retractile force of the armature. The pendulum c then swings in theopposite direction, as indicated by the arrow 4 thereon,

'andis assisted in such movement by the weight of the propeller bearingon the pawlcarrying arm, and said propeller continues to bear on saidarm and assist the pendulum in its movement until. the bent arm (istrikes the upper'end of the arm b when its move ment-is checked and thependulum continues its movement unassisted. The moment thepropelleristhus stopped thependulum moving oncauses the contact 3 toseparate from the .contact 2, thereby opening the circuit and permittingthe armature b to retract.

The retractive force of the armature is greater than the weight of thepropeller, and

hence carries the propeller back with it into the full-line position,(shown in Fig. 1,) there holding it until the pendulum returns again,

engages thepropeller in the manner first described, andcloses thecircuit. Hence it will be seen that by means of the retractive force ofthe armature the propeller is lifted to accumulate' a force which isexpended on the pendulum, and, furthermore, that the armature of theratchet-wheel is moved by the electro-magnet; but if the armature shouldoccasionally fail to respond for one or more impulses the pendulum,swinging by its own momentum, will operate said ratchet-wheel andprevent loss of registration of time, it being understood, however, thatshould the electro-magnet permanently fail the pendulum itself will not,however, drive the train but a very short time.

' I- claim- 1. In anelectric clock, a step-by-step train, adriving-pawl,and an electro-magnet and its armature that moves said driving-pawl, apendulum or equivalent and drivingpawl moved by it, apropeller, and acircuit-closer, substantiallyas described.

2. 111 an electric clock, a train, a drivingpawl,-and.electro-magnet andits armature that moves said driving-pawl, a pendulum, apropellertherefor located in juxtaposi- .tion to the armature and pendulum to bemoved by the former to accumulate a force step driving mechanismtherefor, and an elec tro-magnetand its armature that controls theingunechanism independent of the electromagnet, substantially asdescribed.

4. In 'anelectric cl0ck,-a train, a step-bystep driving mechanismtherefor, and an electro-magnet and its armature that actuates saiddrivingmechanism, combined with a regulating member for the train whichactuates said driving mechanism in case the armature IOC operation ofsaid driving mechanism, com- ,bined with a regulating member for theclock that-also controls the'operation of said driv- 1 v I g f of theelectro-magnet fails, substantially as moved in one direction by theregulating described. member and in the other direction by the ar- 5. Inan electric clock, a train, a step-bymature, substantially as described.step driving mechanism therefor, an electro- In testimony whereof I havesigned my 5 magnet and its armature that actuates said name to thisspecification in the presence of I 5 driving; mechanism, and aregulating member two subscribing Witnesses.

for the train which actuates said driving mech- VILLIAM S. SCALES.anisin in case the armature fails, combined \Vitnesses: with a propellerfor said regulating member, BERNIOE J. NOYES,

to and a circuit-closer for the electro-mag'net AUGUSTA E. DEAN.

